Chris Papadopoullos was City A.M.'s economics reporter until February 2016.

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Chris Papadopoullos

Stewart Wingate has lashed out at the long-delayed report backing Heathrow expansion

The chief executive of Gatwick Airport has hit out at a recent commission’s recommendation that Heathrow be expanded.

A 50-page catalogue of criti­cisms, published yesterday, targets the Davies Commission’s use of analysis from consultants PwC, despite its own expert panel urging caution on it.

It also said the commission’s proposals, which rejected calls to expand Gatwick, used incorrect traffic estimates.

“We expected a well-considered examination of all options, but instead the final report contains so many omissions and basic errors that its reliability as the basis of aviation policy must be called into question. The findings of this report simply do not add up,” said Gatwick boss Stewart Wingate.

“Britain is in danger of losing out once again if we repeat mistakes of the past – Heathrow has failed time and again and the Airports Commission report and the conditions placed on expansion have not solved the huge obstacles confronting it.”

A spokesman for the commission said: “The evidence in the final report was subject to extensive analysis and consultation and we are confident that it is fit for purpose.”